Processing radio-frequency signals with tunable matching circuits

ABSTRACT

Diversity receiver front end system with methods for improving signal processing using tunable matching circuits. The methods can include tuning impedance matching circuits based on frequency bands. For a first path, an impedance can be provided that reduces an in-band noise figure, increases an in-band gain, decreases an out-of-band noise figure, and/or decreases an out-of-band gain. In this way, signals propagated along selectively activated paths between an input of a receiving system and an output of the receiving system can be improved. The signals can be amplified using amplifiers disposed on corresponding paths between the input and output of the receiving system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/944,918 filed Nov. 18, 2015 and entitled DIVERSITY RECEIVER FRONT ENDSYSTEM WITH TUNABLE INPUT AND OUTPUT MATCHING CIRCUITS, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/734,775 (now U.S.Pat. No. 9,571,037) filed Jun. 9, 2015 and entitled DIVERSITY RECEIVERFRONT END SYSTEM WITH IMPEDANCE MATCHING COMPONENTS, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/073,043 filed Oct. 31,2014, entitled DIVERSITY RECEIVER FRONT END SYSTEM, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/073,040, filed Oct. 31, 2014, entitled CARRIERAGGREGATION USING POST-LNA PHASE MATCHING, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/073,039, filed Oct. 31, 2014, entitled PRE-LNA OUT OFBAND IMPEDANCE MATCHING FOR CARRIER AGGREGATION OPERATION, thedisclosures of each of which are hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communicationsystems having one or more diversity receiving antennas.

Description of the Related Art

In wireless communication applications, size, cost, and performance areexamples of factors that can be important for a given product. Forexample, to increase performance, wireless components such as adiversity receive antenna and associated circuitry are becoming morepopular.

In many radio-frequency (RF) applications, a diversity receive antennais placed physically far from a primary antenna. When both antennas areused at once, a transceiver can process signals from both antennas inorder to increase data throughput.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some implementations, the present disclosure relatesto a receiving system including a controller configured to selectivelyactivate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of thereceiving system and an output of the receiving system. The receivingsystem includes a plurality of amplifiers. Each one of the plurality ofamplifiers is disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality ofpaths and configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. Thereceiving system includes one or more tunable matching circuits. Eachone of the one or more tunable matching circuits is disposed at theinput or the output and is configured to present an impedance based on atuning signal received from the controller.

In some embodiments, the controller can be configured to selectivelyactivate the one or more of the plurality of paths by transmitting asplitter control signal to a signal splitter and a combiner controlsignal to a signal combiner. In some embodiments, an output of one ofthe one or more tunable matching circuits can be coupled to an input ofthe signal splitter. In some embodiments, an input of one of the one ormore tunable matching circuits can be coupled to an output of the signalcombiner.

In some embodiments, the controller can be configured to selectivelyactivate the one or more of the plurality of paths by transmitting anamplifier enable signal to one or more of the plurality of amplifiersrespectively disposed along the one or more of the plurality of paths.

In some embodiments, the controller can be configured to selectivelyactivate the one or more of the plurality of paths based on a bandselect signal received by the controller. In some embodiments, thecontroller can be configured to generate the tuning signal based on theband select signal. In some embodiments, the controller can beconfigured to generate the tuning signal based on a lookup table thatassociates frequency bands or sets of frequency bands with tuningparameters.

In some embodiments, one of the one or more tunable matching circuitscan include at least one of a variable capacitor, a variable resistor,or a variable inductor. In some embodiments, one of the one or moretunable matching circuits can include at least one of a tunableT-circuit or a tunable PI-circuit.

In some embodiments, the receiving system can further include aplurality of bandpass filters. Each one of the plurality of bandpassfilters can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality ofpaths and can be configured to filter a signal received at the bandpassfilter to a respective frequency band.

In some embodiments, at least one of the amplifiers can include avariable-gain amplifier (VGA) configured to amplify a signal received atthe VGA with a gain controlled by an amplifier control signal receivedfrom the controller. The tuning signal can be based on the amplifiercontrol signal.

In some embodiments, the receiving system can further include at leastone tunable impedance matching component. Each one of the at least onetunable impedance matching component can be disposed along acorresponding one of the plurality of paths and can be configured toreduce at least one of an out-of-band noise figure or an out-of-bandgain of the one of the plurality of paths based on a second tuningsignal. The tuning signal can be based on the second tuning signal.

In some implementations, the present disclosure relates to aradio-frequency (RF) module that includes a packaging substrateconfigured to receive a plurality of components. The RF module furtherincludes a receiving system implemented on the packaging substrate. Thereceiving system includes a controller configured to selectivelyactivate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of thereceiving system and an output of the receiving system. The receivingsystem includes a plurality of amplifiers. Each one of the plurality ofamplifiers is disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality ofpaths and configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. Thereceiving system includes one or more tunable matching circuits. Eachone of the one or more tunable matching circuits is disposed at theinput or the output and is configured to present an impedance based on atuning signal received from the controller. In some embodiments, the RFmodule can be a diversity receiver front-end module (FEM).

In some embodiments, an output of one of the one or more tunablematching circuits can be coupled to an input of a signal splitter. Insome embodiments, an input of one of the one or more tunable matchingcircuits can be coupled to an output of a signal combiner.

According to some teachings, the present disclosure relates to awireless device that includes a first antenna configured to receive afirst radio-frequency (RF) signal. The wireless device further includesa first front-end module (FEM) in communication with the first antenna.The first FEM including a packaging substrate configured to receive aplurality of components. The first FEM further includes a receivingsystem implemented on the packaging substrate. The receiving systemincludes a controller configured to selectively activate one or more ofa plurality of paths between an input of the receiving system and anoutput of the receiving system. The receiving system includes aplurality of amplifiers. Each one of the plurality of amplifiers isdisposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and isconfigured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. The receivingsystem includes one or more tunable matching circuits. Each one of theone or more tunable matching circuits is disposed at the input or theoutput and is configured to present an impedance based on a tuningsignal received from the controller. The wireless device furtherincludes a transceiver configured to receive a processed version of thefirst RF signal from the output via a transmission line and generatedata bits based on the processed version of the first RF signal.

In some embodiments, the wireless device can further include a secondantenna configured to receive a second radio-frequency (RF) signal and asecond FEM in communication with the first antenna. The transceiver canbe configured to receive a processed version of the second RF signalfrom an output of the second FEM and generate the data bits based on theprocessed version of the second RF signal.

In some embodiments, an output of one of the one or more tunablematching circuits can be coupled to an input of a signal splitter or aninput of one of the one or more tunable matching circuits can be coupledto an output of a signal combiner.

For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantagesand novel features of the inventions have been described herein. It isto be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention.Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner thatachieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taughtherein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taughtor suggested herein.

The present disclosure relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/734,759, entitled DIVERSITY RECEIVER FRONT END SYSTEM WITHPHASE-SHIFTING COMPONENTS, filed on Jun. 9, 2015, and herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a wireless device having a communications module coupled toa primary antenna and a diversity antenna.

FIG. 2 shows a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration including a DRxfront-end module (FEM).

FIG. 3 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiver (DRx)configuration may include a DRx module with multiple paths correspondingto multiple frequency bands.

FIG. 4 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a diversity RF module with fewer amplifiersthan a diversity receiver (DRx) module.

FIG. 5 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module coupled to an off-module filter.

FIG. 6A shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with one or more phase matchingcomponents.

FIG. 6B shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with one or more phase matchingcomponents and dual-stage amplifiers.

FIG. 6C shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with one or more phase matchingcomponents and a post-combiner amplifier.

FIG. 7 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with tunable phase-shiftcomponents.

FIG. 8 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with one or more impedancematching components.

FIG. 9 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with tunable impedance matchingcomponents.

FIG. 10 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with tunable impedance matchingcomponents disposed at the input and output.

FIG. 11 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration may include a DRx module with multiple tunable components.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a flowchart representation of a method ofprocessing an RF signal.

FIG. 13 depicts a module having one or more features as describedherein.

FIG. 14 depicts a wireless device having one or more features describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The headings provided herein, if any, are for convenience only and donot necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless device 100 having a communications module 110coupled to a primary antenna 130 and a diversity antenna 140. Thecommunications module 110 (and its constituent components) may becontrolled by a controller 120. The communications module 110 includes atransceiver 112 that is configured to convert between analogradio-frequency (RF) signals and digital data signals. To that end, thetransceiver 112 may include a digital-to-analog converter, ananalog-to-digital converter, a local oscillator for modulating ordemodulating a baseband analog signal to or from a carrier frequency, abaseband processor that converts between digital samples and data bits(e.g., voice or other types of data), or other components.

The communications module 110 further includes an RF module 114 coupledbetween the primary antenna 130 and the transceiver 112. Because the RFmodule 114 may be physically close to the primary antenna 130 to reduceattenuation due to cable loss, the RF module 114 may be referred to asfront-end module (FEM). The RF module 114 may perform processing on ananalog signal received from the primary antenna 130 for the transceiver112 or received from transceiver 112 for transmission via the primaryantenna 130. To that end, the RF module 114 may include filters, poweramplifiers, band select switches, matching circuits, and othercomponents. Similarly, the communications module 110 includes adiversity RF module 116 coupled between the diversity antenna 140 andthe transceiver 112 that performs similar processing.

When a signal is transmitted to the wireless device, the signal may bereceived at both the primary antenna 130 and the diversity antenna 140.The primary antenna 130 and diversity antenna 140 may be physicallyspaced apart such that the signal at the primary antenna 130 anddiversity antenna 140 is received with different characteristics. Forexample, in one embodiment, the primary antenna 130 and diversityantenna 140 may receive the signal with different attenuation, noise,frequency response, or phase shift. The transceiver 112 may use both ofthe signals with different characteristics to determine data bitscorresponding to the signal. In some implementations, the transceiver112 selects from between the primary antenna 130 and the diversityantenna 140 based on the characteristics, such as selecting the antennawith the highest signal-to-noise ratio. In some implementations, thetransceiver 112 combines the signals from the primary antenna 130 andthe diversity antenna 140 to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of thecombined signal. In some implementations, the transceiver 112 processesthe signals to perform multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO)communication.

Because the diversity antenna 140 is physically spaced apart from theprimary antenna 130, the diversity antenna 140 is coupled to thecommunications module 110 by a transmission line 135, such as a cable ora printed circuit board (PCB) trace. In some implementations, thetransmission line 135 is lossy and attenuates the signal received at thediversity antenna 140 before it reaches the communications module 110.Thus, in some implementations, as described below, gain is applied tothe signal received at the diversity antenna 140. The gain (and otheranalog processing, such as filtering) may be applied by a diversityreceiver module. Because such a diversity receiver module may be locatedphysically close to the diversity antenna 140, it may be referred to adiversity receiver front-end module.

FIG. 2 shows a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration 200 including aDRx front-end module (FEM) 210. The DRx configuration 200 includes adiversity antenna 140 that is configured to receive a diversity signaland provide the diversity signal to the DRx FEM 210. The DRx FEM 210 isconfigured to perform processing on the diversity signal received fromthe diversity antenna 140. For example, the DRx FEM 210 may beconfigured to filter the diversity signal to one or more activefrequency bands, e.g., as indicated by the controller 120. As anotherexample, the DRx FEM 210 may be configured to amplify the diversitysignal. To that end, the DRx FEM 210 may include filters, low-noiseamplifiers, band select switches, matching circuits, and othercomponents.

The DRx FEM 210 transmits the processed diversity signal via atransmission line 135 to a downstream module, such as the diversity RF(D-RF) module 116, which feeds a further processed diversity signal tothe transceiver 112. The diversity RF module 116 (and, in someimplementations, the transceiver), is controlled by the controller 120.In some implementations, the controller 120 may be implemented withinthe transceiver 112.

FIG. 3 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiver (DRx)configuration 300 may include a DRx module 310 with multiple pathscorresponding to multiple frequency bands. The DRx configuration 300includes a diversity antenna 140 configured to receive a diversitysignal. In some implementations, the diversity signal may be asingle-band signal including data modulated onto a single frequencyband. In some implementations, the diversity signal may be a multi-bandsignal (also referred to as an inter-band carrier aggregation signal)including data modulated onto multiple frequency bands.

The DRx module 310 has an input that receives the diversity signal fromthe diversity antenna 140 and an output that provides a processeddiversity signal to the transceiver 330 (via the transmission line 135and the diversity RF module 320). The DRx module 310 input feeds into aninput of first multiplexer (MUX) 311. The first multiplexer 311 includesa plurality of multiplexer outputs, each corresponding to a path betweenthe input and the output of the DRx module 310. Each of the paths maycorrespond to a respective frequency band. The DRx module 310 output isprovided by the output of second multiplexer 312. The second multiplexer312 includes a plurality of multiplexer inputs, each corresponding toone of the paths between the input and the output of the DRx module 310.

The frequency bands may be cellular frequency bands, such as UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) frequency bands. Forexample, a first frequency band may be UMTS downlink or “Rx” Band 2,between 1930 megahertz (MHZ) and 1990 MHz, and a second frequency bandmay be UMTS downlink or “Rx” Band 5, between 869 MHz and 894 MHz. Otherdownlink frequency bands may be used, such as those described below inTable 1 or other non-UMTS frequency bands.

In some implementations, the DRx module 310 includes a DRx controller302 that receives signals from the controller 120 (also referred to as acommunications controller) and, based on the received signals,selectively activates one or more of the plurality of paths between theinput and the output. In some implementations, the DRx module 310 doesnot include a DRx controller 302 and the controller 120 selectivelyactivates the one or more of the plurality of paths directly.

As noted above, in some implementations, the diversity signal is asingle-band signal. Thus, in some implementations, the first multiplexer311 is a single-pole/multiple-throw (SPMT) switch that routes thediversity signal to one of the plurality of paths corresponding to thefrequency band of the single-band signal based on a signal received fromthe DRx controller 302. The DRx controller 302 may generate the signalbased on a band select signal received by the DRx controller 302 fromthe communications controller 120. Similarly, in some implementations,the second multiplexer 312 is a SPMT switch that routes the signal fromthe one of the plurality of paths corresponding to the frequency band ofthe single-band signal based on a signal received from the DRxcontroller 302.

As noted above, in some implementations, the diversity signal is amulti-band signal. Thus, in some implementations, the first multiplexer311 is a signal splitter that routes the diversity signal to two or moreof the plurality of paths corresponding to the two or more frequencybands of the multi-band signal based on a splitter control signalreceived from the DRx controller 302. The function of the signalsplitter may be implemented as a SPMT switch, a diplexer filter, or somecombination of these. Similarly, in some implementations, the secondmultiplexer 312 is a signal combiner that combines the signals from thetwo or more of the plurality of paths corresponding to the two or morefrequency bands of the multi-band signal based on a combiner controlsignal received from the DRx controller 302. The function of the signalcombiner may be implemented as a SPMT switch, a diplexer filter, or somecombination of these. The DRx controller 302 may generate the splittercontrol signal and the combiner control signal based on a band selectsignal received by the DRx controller 302 from the communicationscontroller 120.

Thus, in some implementations, the DRx controller 302 is configured toselectively activate one or more of the plurality of paths based on aband select signal received by the DRx controller 302 (e.g., from thecommunications controller 120). In some implementations, the DRxcontroller 302 is configured to selectively activate one or more of theplurality of paths by transmitting a splitter control signal to a signalsplitter and a combiner control signal to a signal combiner.

The DRx module 310 includes a plurality of bandpass filters 313 a-313 d.Each one of the bandpass filters 313 a-313 d is disposed along acorresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to filter asignal received at the bandpass filter to the respective frequency bandof the one of the plurality of paths. In some implementations, thebandpass filters 313 a-313 d are further configured to filter a signalreceived at the bandpass filter to a downlink frequency sub-band of therespective frequency band of the one of the plurality of paths. The DRxmodule 310 includes a plurality of amplifiers 314 a-314 d. Each one ofthe amplifiers 314 a-314 d is disposed along a corresponding one of theplurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at theamplifier.

In some implementations, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d are narrowbandamplifiers configured to amplify a signal within the respectivefrequency band of the path in which the amplifier is disposed. In someimplementations, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d are controllable by the DRxcontroller 302. For example, in some implementations, each of theamplifiers 314 a-314 d includes an enable/disable input and is enabled(or disabled) based on an amplifier enable signal received and theenable/disable input. The amplifier enable signal may be transmitted bythe DRx controller 302. Thus, in some implementations, the DRxcontroller 302 is configured to selectively activate one or more of theplurality of paths by transmitting an amplifier enable signal to one ormore of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d respectively disposed along the oneor more of the plurality of paths. In such implementations, rather thanbeing controlled by the DRx controller 302, the first multiplexer 311may be a signal splitter that routes the diversity signal to each of theplurality of paths and the second multiplexer 312 may be a signalcombiner that combines the signals from each of the plurality of paths.However, in implementations in which the DRx controller 302 controls thefirst multiplexer 311 and second multiplexer 312, the DRX controller 302may also enable (or disable) particular amplifiers 314 a-314 d, e.g., tosave battery.

In some implementations, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d are variable-gainamplifiers (VGAs). Thus, the some implementations, the DRx module 310includes a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers (VGAs), each one of theVGAs disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths andconfigured to amplify a signal received at the VGA with a gaincontrolled by an amplifier control signal received from the DRxcontroller 302.

The gain of a VGA may be bypassable, step-variable,continuously-variable. In some implementations, at least one of the VGAsincludes a fixed-gain amplifier and a bypass switch controllable by theamplifier control signal. The bypass switch may (in a first position)close a line between an input of the fixed-gain amplifier to an outputof fixed-gain amplifier, allowing a signal to bypass the fixed-gainamplifier. The bypass switch may (in a second position) open the linebetween the input and the output, passing a signal through thefixed-gain amplifier. In some implementations, when the bypass switch isin the first position, the fixed-gain amplifier is disabled or otherwisereconfigured to accommodate the bypass mode.

In some implementations, at least one of the VGAs includes astep-variable gain amplifier configured to amplify the signal receivedat the VGA with a gain of one of plurality of configured amountsindicated by the amplifier control signal. In some implementations, atleast one of the VGAs includes a continuously-variable gain amplifierconfigured to amplify a signal received at the VGA with a gainproportional to the amplifier control signal.

In some implementations, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d are variable-currentamplifiers (VCAs). The current drawn by a VCA may be bypassable,step-variable, continuously-variable. In some implementations, at leastone of the VCAs includes a fixed-current amplifier and a bypass switchcontrollable by the amplifier control signal. The bypass switch may (ina first position) close a line between an input of the fixed-currentamplifier to an output of fixed-current amplifier, allowing a signal tobypass the fixed-current amplifier. The bypass switch may (in a secondposition) open the line between the input and the output, passing asignal through the fixed-current amplifier. In some implementations,when the bypass switch is in the first position, the fixed-currentamplifier is disabled or otherwise reconfigured to accommodate thebypass mode.

In some implementations, at least one of the VCAs includes astep-variable current amplifier configured to amplify the signalreceived at the VCA by drawing a current of one of plurality ofconfigured amounts indicated by the amplifier control signal. In someimplementations, at least one of the VCAs includes acontinuously-variable current amplifier configured to amplify a signalreceived at the VCA by drawing a current proportional to the amplifiercontrol signal.

In some implementations, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d are fixed-gain,fixed-current amplifiers. In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314 d are fixed-gain, variable-current amplifiers. In someimplementations, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d are variable-gain,fixed-current amplifiers. In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314 d are variable-gain, variable-current amplifiers.

In some implementations, the DRx controller 302 generates the amplifiercontrol signal(s) based on a quality of service metric of an inputsignal received at the input. In some implementations, the DRxcontroller 302 generates the amplifier control signal(s) based on asignal received from the communications controller 120, which may, inturn, be based on a quality of service (QoS) metric of the receivedsignal. The QoS metric of the received signal may be based, at least inpart, on the diversity signal received on the diversity antenna 140(e.g., an input signal received at the input). The QoS metric of thereceived signal may be further based on a signal received on a primaryantenna. In some implementations, the DRx controller 302 generates theamplifier control signal(s) based on a QoS metric of the diversitysignal without receiving a signal from the communications controller120.

In some implementations, the QoS metric includes a signal strength. Asanother example, the QoS metric may include a bit error rate, a datathroughput, a transmission delay, or any other QoS metric.

As noted above, the DRx module 310 has an input that receives thediversity signal from the diversity antenna 140 and an output thatprovides a processed diversity signal to the transceiver 330 (via thetransmission line 135 and the diversity RF module 320). The diversity RFmodule 320 receives the processed diversity signal via the transmissionline 135 and performs further processing. In particular, the processeddiversity signal is split or routed by a diversity RF multiplexer 321 toone or more paths on which the split or routed signal is filtered bycorresponding bandpass filters 323 a-323 d and amplified bycorresponding amplifiers 324 a-324 d. The output of each of theamplifiers 324 a-324 d is provided to the transceiver 330.

The diversity RF multiplexer 321 may be controlled by the controller 120(either directly or via or an on-chip diversity RF controller) toselectively activate one or more of the paths. Similarly, the amplifiers324 a-324 d may be controlled by the controller 120. For example, insome implementations, each of the amplifiers 324 a-324 d includes anenable/disable input and is enabled (or disabled) based on an amplifierenable signal. In some implementations, the amplifiers 324 a-324 d arevariable-gain amplifiers (VGAs) that amplify a signal received at theVGA with a gain controlled by an amplifier control signal received fromthe controller 120 (or an on-chip diversity RF controller controlled bythe controller 120). In some implementations, the amplifiers 324 a-324 dare variable-current amplifiers (VCAs).

With the DRx module 310 added to the receiver chain already includingthe diversity RF module 320, the number of bandpass filters in the DRxconfiguration 300 is doubled. Thus, in some implementations, bandpassfilters 323 a-323 d are not included in the diversity RF module 320.Rather, the bandpass filters 313 a-313 d of the DRx module 310 are usedto reduce the strength of out-of-band blockers. Further, the automaticgain control (AGC) table of the diversity RF module 320 may be shiftedto reduce the amount of gain provided by the amplifiers 324 a-324 d ofthe diversity RF module 320 by the amount of the gain provided by theamplifiers 314 a-314 d of the DRx module 310.

For example, if the DRx module gain is 15 dB and the receiversensitivity is −100 dBm, the diversity RF module 320 will see −85 dBm ofsensitivity. If the closed-loop AGC of the diversity RF module 320 isactive, its gain will drop by 15 dB automatically. However, both signalcomponents and out-of-band blockers are received amplified by 15 dB.Thus, the 15 dB gain drop of the diversity RF module 320 may also beaccompanied by a 15 dB increase in its linearity. In particular, theamplifiers 324 a-324 d of the diversity RF module 320 may be designedsuch that the linearity of the amplifiers increases with reduced gain(or increased current).

In some implementations, the controller 120 controls the gain (and/orcurrent) of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d of the DRx module 310 and theamplifiers 324 a-324 d of the diversity RF module 320. As in the exampleabove, the controller 120 may reduce an amount of gain provided by theamplifiers 324 a-324 d of the diversity RF module 320 in response toincreasing an amount of gain provided by the amplifiers 314 a-314 d ofthe DRx module 310. Thus, in some implementations, the controller 120 isconfigured to generate a downstream amplifier control signal (for theamplifiers 324 a-324 d of the diversity RF module 320) based on theamplifier control signal (for the amplifiers 314 a-314 d of the DRxmodule 310) to control a gain of one or more downstream amplifiers 324a-324 d coupled to the output (of the DRx module 310) via thetransmission line 135. In some implementations, the controller 120 alsocontrols the gain of other components of the wireless device, such asamplifiers in the front-end module (FEM), based on the amplifier controlsignal.

As noted above, in some implementations, the bandpass filters 323 a-323d are not included. Thus, in some implementations, at least one of thedownstream amplifiers 324 a-324 d are coupled to the output (of the DRxmodule 310) via the transmission line 135 without passing through adownstream bandpass filter.

FIG. 4 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 400 may include a diversity RF module 420 with feweramplifiers than a diversity receiver (DRx) module 310. The diversityreceiver configuration 400 includes a diversity antenna 140 and a DRxmodule 310 as described above with respect to FIG. 3. The output of theDRx module 310 is passed, via a transmission line 135, to a diversity RFmodule 420 which differs from the diversity RF module 320 of FIG. 3 inthat the diversity RF module 420 of FIG. 4 includes fewer amplifiersthan the DRx module 310.

As mentioned above, in some implementations, the diversity RF module 420does not include bandpass filters. Thus, in some implementations, theone or more amplifiers 424 of the diversity RF module 420 need not beband-specific. In particular, the diversity RF module 420 may includeone or more paths, each including an amplifier 424, that are not mapped1-to-1 with the paths DRx module 310. Such a mapping of paths (orcorresponding amplifiers) may be stored in the controller 120.

Accordingly, whereas the DRx module 310 includes a number of paths, eachcorresponding to a frequency band, the diversity RF module 420 mayinclude one or more paths that do not correspond to a single frequencyband.

In some implementations (as shown in FIG. 4), the diversity RF module420 includes a single wide-band or tunable amplifier 424 that amplifiesthe signal received from the transmission line 135 and outputs anamplified signal to a multiplexer 421. The multiplexer 421 includes aplurality of multiplexer outputs, each corresponding to a respectivefrequency band. In some implementations, the diversity RF module 420does not include any amplifiers.

In some implementations, the diversity signal is a single-band signal.Thus, in some implementations, the multiplexer 421 is a SPMT switch thatroutes the diversity signal to one of the plurality of outputscorresponding to the frequency band of the single-band signal based on asignal received from the controller 120. In some implementations, thediversity signal is a multi-band signal. Thus, in some implementations,the multiplexer 421 is a signal splitter that routes the diversitysignal to two or more of the plurality of outputs corresponding to thetwo or more frequency bands of the multi-band signal based on a splittercontrol signal received from the controller 120. In someimplementations, diversity RF module 420 may be combined with thetransceiver 330 as a single module.

In some implementations, the diversity RF module 420 includes multipleamplifiers, each corresponding to a set of frequency bands. The signalfrom the transmission line 135 may be fed into a band splitter thatoutputs high frequencies along a first path to a high-frequencyamplifier and outputs low frequencies along a second path to alow-frequency amplifier. The output of each of the amplifiers may beprovided to the multiplexer 421 which is configured to route the signalto the corresponding inputs of the transceiver 330.

FIG. 5 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 500 may include a DRx module 510 coupled to an off-modulefilter 513. The DRx module 510 may include a packaging substrate 501configured to receive a plurality of components and a receiving systemimplemented on the packaging substrate 501. The DRx module 510 mayinclude one or more signal paths that are routed off the DRx module 510and made available to a system integrator, designer, or manufacturer tosupport a filter for any desired band.

The DRx module 510 includes a number of paths between the input and theoutput of the DRx module 510. The DRx module 510 includes a bypass pathbetween the input and the output activated by a bypass switch 519controlled by the DRx controller 502. Although FIG. 5 illustrates asingle bypass switch 519, in some implementations, the bypass switch 519may include multiple switches (e.g., a first switch disposed physicallyclose to the input and a second switch disposed physically close to theoutput. As shown in FIG. 5, the bypass path does not include a filter oran amplifier.

The DRx module 510 includes a number of multiplexer paths including afirst multiplexer 511 and a second multiplexer 512. The multiplexerpaths include a number of on-module paths that include the firstmultiplexer 511, a bandpass filter 313 a-313 d implemented on thepackaging substrate 501, an amplifier 314 a-314 d implemented on thepackaging substrate 501, and the second multiplexer 512. The multiplexerpaths include one or more off-module paths that include the firstmultiplexer 511, a bandpass filter 513 implemented off the packagingsubstrate 501, an amplifier 514, and the second multiplexer 512. Theamplifier 514 may be a wide-band amplifier implemented on the packagingsubstrate 501 or may also be implemented off the packaging substrate501. As described above, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d, 514 may bevariable-gain amplifiers and/or variable-current amplifiers.

The DRx controller 502 is configured to selectively activate one or moreof the plurality of paths between the input and the output. In someimplementations, the DRx controller 502 is configured to selectivelyactivate one or more of the plurality of paths based on a band selectsignal received by the DRx controller 502 (e.g., from a communicationscontroller). The DRx controller 502 may selectively activate the pathsby, for example, opening or closing the bypass switch 519, enabling ordisabling the amplifiers 314 a-314 d, 514, controlling the multiplexers511, 512, or through other mechanisms. For example, the DRx controller502 may open or close switches along the paths (e.g., between thefilters 313 a-313 d, 513 and the amplifiers 314 a-314 d, 514) or bysetting the gain of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d, 514 to substantiallyzero.

FIG. 6A shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 600 may include a DRx module 610 with one or more phasematching components 624 a-624 b. The DRx module 610 includes two pathsfrom an input of the DRx module 610, coupled to an antenna 140, and anoutput of the DRx module 610, coupled to a transmission line 135.

In the DRx module 610 of FIG. 6A, the signal splitter and bandpassfilters are implemented as a diplexer 611. The diplexer 611 includes aninput coupled to the antenna 140, a first output coupled to a firstamplifier 314 a, and a second output coupled to a second amplifier 314b. At the first output, the diplexer 611 outputs a signal received atthe input (e.g., from the antenna 140) filtered to a first frequencyband. At the second output, the diplexer 611 outputs the signal receivedat the input filtered to a second frequency band. In someimplementations, the diplexer 611 may be replaced with a triplexer, aquadplexer, or any other multiplexer configured to split an input signalreceived at the input of the DRx module 610 into a plurality of signalsat a respective plurality of frequency bands propagated along aplurality of paths.

As described above, each one of the amplifiers 314 a-314 b is disposedalong a corresponding one of the paths and is configured to amplify asignal received at the amplifier. The output of the amplifiers 314 a-314b are fed through a corresponding phase-shift component 624 a-624 bbefore being combined by a signal combiner 612.

The signal combiner 612 includes a first input coupled to the firstphase shift component 624 a, a second input coupled to second phaseshift component 624 b, and an output coupled to the output of the DRxmodule 610. The signal at the output of the signal combiner is a sum ofthe signals at the first input and the second input. Thus, the signalcombiner is configured to combine signals propagated along the pluralityof paths.

When a signal is received by the antenna 140, the signal is filtered bythe diplexer 611 to a first frequency band and propagated along thefirst path through the first amplifier 314 a. The filtered and amplifiedsignal is phase-shifted by the first phase-shift component 624 a and fedto the first input of the signal combiner 612. In some implementations,the signal combiner 612 or the second amplifier 314 b do not prevent thesignal from continuing through the signal combiner 612 along the secondpath in a reverse direction. Thus, the signal propagates through thesecond phase-shift component 624 b and through the second amplifier 314b, where it reflects off the diplexer 611. The reflected signalpropagates through the second amplifier 314 b and the second phase-shiftcomponent 624 b to reach the second input of the signal combiner 612.

When the initial signal (at the first input of the signal combiner 612)and the reflected signal (at the second input of the signal combiner612) are out-of-phase, the summation performed by the signal combiner612 results in a weakening of the signal at the output of the signalcombiner 612. Similarly, when the initial signal and the reflectedsignal are in-phase, the summation performed by the signal combiner 612results in a strengthening of the signal at the output of the signalcombiner 612. Thus, in some implementations, the second phase-shiftcomponent 624 b is configured to phase-shift the signal (at least in thefirst frequency band) such that the initial signal and the reflectedsignal are at least partially in-phase. In particular, the secondphase-shift component 624 b is configured to phase-shift the signal (atleast in the first frequency band) such that the amplitude of the sum ofinitial signal and the reflected signal is greater than the amplitude ofthe initial signal.

For example, the second phase-shift component 624 b may be configured tophase-shift a signal passing through the second phase-shift component624 b by −1/2 times the phase-shift introduced by reverse propagationthrough the second amplifier 314 b, reflection off the diplexer 611, andforward propagation through the second amplifier 314 b. As anotherexample, the second phase-shift component 624 b may be configured tophase-shift a signal passing through the second phase-shift component624 b by half of the difference between 360 degrees and the phase-shiftintroduced by reverse propagation through the second amplifier 314 b,reflection off the diplexer 611, and forward propagation through thesecond amplifier 314 b. In general, the second phase-shift component 624b may be configured to phase-shift a signal passing through the secondphase-shift component 624 b such that the initial signal and thereflected signal have a phase difference of an integer multiple(including zero) of 360 degrees.

As an example, the initial signal may be at 0 degrees (or any otherreference phase), and the reverse propagation through the secondamplifier 314 b, reflection off the diplexer 611, and forwardpropagation through the second amplifier 314 b may introduce a phaseshift of 140 degrees. Thus, in some implementations, the secondphase-shift component 624 b is configured to phase-shift a signalpassing through the second phase-shift component 624 b by −70 degrees.Thus, the initial signal is phase-shifted to −70 degrees by the secondphase-shift component 624 b, to 70 degrees by reverse propagationthrough the second amplifier 314 b, reflection off the diplexer 611, andforward propagation through the second amplifier 314 b, and back to 0degrees by the second-phase shift component 624 b.

In some implementations, the second phase-shift component 624 b isconfigured to phase-shift a signal passing through the secondphase-shift component 624 b by 110 degrees. Thus, the initial signal isphase-shifted to 110 degrees by the second phase-shift component 624 b,to 250 degrees by reverse propagation through the second amplifier 314b, reflection off the diplexer 611, and forward propagation through thesecond amplifier 314 b, and to 360 degrees by the second-phase shiftcomponent 624 b.

At the same time, the signal received by the antenna 140 is filtered bythe diplexer 611 to a second frequency band and propagated along thesecond path through the second amplifier 314 b. The filtered andamplified signal is phase-shifted by the second phase-shift component624 b and fed to the second input of the signal combiner 612. In someimplementations, the signal combiner 612 or the first amplifier 314 a donot prevent the signal from continuing through the signal combiner 612along the first path in a reverse direction. Thus, the signal propagatesthrough the first phase-shift component 624 a and through the secondamplifier 314 a, where it reflects off the diplexer 611. The reflectedsignal propagates through the first amplifier 314 a and the firstphase-shift component 624 a to reach the first input of the signalcombiner 612.

When the initial signal (at the second input of the signal combiner 612)and the reflected signal (at the first input of the signal combiner 612)are out-of-phase, the summation performed by the signal combiner 612results in a weakening of the signal at the output of the signalcombiner 612 and when the initial signal and the reflected signal arein-phase, the summation performed by the signal combiner 612 results ina strengthening of the signal at the output of the signal combiner 612.Thus, in some implementations, the first phase-shift component 624 a isconfigured to phase-shift the signal (at least in the second frequencyband) such that the initial signal and the reflected signal are at leastpartially in-phase.

For example, the first phase-shift component 624 a may be configured tophase-shift a signal passing through the first phase-shift component 624a by −1/2 times the phase-shift introduced by reverse propagationthrough the first amplifier 314 a, reflection off the diplexer 611, andforward propagation through the first amplifier 314 a. As anotherexample, the first phase-shift component 624 a may be configured tophase-shift a signal passing through the first phase-shift component 624a by half of the difference between 360 degrees and the phase-shiftintroduced by reverse propagation through the first amplifier 314 a,reflection off the diplexer 611, and forward propagation through thefirst amplifier 314 a. In general, the first phase-shift component 624 amay be configured to phase-shift a signal passing through the firstphase-shift component 624 a such that the initial signal and thereflected signal have a phase difference of an integer multiple(including zero) of 360 degrees.

The phase-shift components 624 a-624 b may be implemented as passivecircuits. In particular, the phase-shift components 624 a-624 b may beimplemented as LC circuits and include one or more passive components,such as inductors and/or capacitors. The passive components may beconnected in parallel and/or in series and may be connected between theoutputs of the amplifiers 314 a-314 b and the inputs of the signalcombiner 612 or may be connected between the outputs of the amplifiers314 a-314 b and a ground voltage. In some implementations, thephase-shift components 624 a-624 b are integrated into the same die asthe amplifiers 314 a-314 b or on the same package.

In some implementations (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6A), the phase-shiftcomponents 624 a-624 b are disposed along the paths after the amplifiers314 a-314 b. Thus, any signal attenuation caused by the phase-shiftcomponents 624 a-624 b does not affect the performance of the module610, e.g., the signal-to-noise ratio of the output signal. However, insome implementations, the phase-shift components 624 a-624 b aredisposed along the paths before the amplifiers 314 a-314 b. For example,the phase-shift components 624 a-624 b may be integrated into animpedance matching component disposed between the diplexer 611 and theamplifiers 314 a-314 b.

FIG. 6B shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 640 may include a DRx module 641 with one or more phasematching components 624 a-624 b and dual-stage amplifiers 614 a-614 b.The DRx module 641 of FIG. 6B is substantially similar to the DRx module610 of FIG. 6A, except that the amplifiers 314 a-314 b of the DRx module610 of FIG. 6A are replaced with dual-stage amplifiers 614 a-614 b inthe DRx module 641 of FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6C shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 680 may include a DRx module 681 with one or more phasematching components 624 a-624 b and a post-combiner amplifier 615. TheDRx module 681 of FIG. 6C is substantially similar to the DRx module 610of FIG. 6A, except that the DRx module 681 of FIG. 6C includes apost-combiner amplifier 615 disposed between the output of the signalcombiner 612 and the output of the DRx module 681. Like the amplifiers314 a-314 b, the post-combiner amplifier 615 may be a variable-gainamplifier (VGA) and/or a variable-current amplifier controlled by a DRxcontroller (not shown).

FIG. 7 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 700 may include a DRx module 710 with tunable phase-shiftcomponents 724 a-724 d. Each of the tunable phase-shift components 724a-724 d may be configured to phase-shift a signal passing through thetunable phase-shift component an amount controlled by a phase-shifttuning signal received from a DRx controller 702.

The diversity receiver configuration 700 includes a DRx module 710having an input coupled to an antenna 140 and an output coupled to atransmission line 135. The DRx module 710 includes a number of pathsbetween the input and the output of the DRx module 710. In someimplementations, the DRx module 710 includes one or more bypass paths(not shown) between the inputs and the output activated by one or morebypass switches controlled by the DRx controller 702.

The DRx module 710 includes a number of multiplexer paths including aninput multiplexer 311 and an output multiplexer 312. The multiplexerpaths include a number of on-module paths (shown) that include the inputmultiplexer 311, a bandpass filter 313 a-313 d, an amplifier 314 a-314d, a tunable phase-shift component 724 a-724 d, the output multiplexer312, and a post-combiner amplifier 615. The multiplexer paths mayinclude one or more off-module paths (not shown) as described above. Asalso described above, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d (including thepost-gain amplifier 615) may be variable-gain amplifiers and/orvariable-current amplifiers.

The tunable phase-shift components 724 a-724 d may include one or morevariable components, such as inductors and capacitors. The variablecomponents may be connected in parallel and/or in series and may beconnected between the outputs of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d and theinputs of the output multiplexer 312 or may be connected between theoutputs of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d and a ground voltage.

The DRx controller 702 is configured to selectively activate one or moreof the plurality of paths between the input and the output. In someimplementations, the DRx controller 702 is configured to selectivelyactivate one or more of the plurality of paths based on a band selectsignal received by the DRx controller 702 (e.g., from a communicationscontroller). The DRx controller 702 may selectively activate the pathsby, for example, enabling or disabling the amplifiers 314 a-314 d,controlling the multiplexers 311, 312, or through other mechanisms asdescribed above.

In some implementations, the DRx controller 702 is configured to tunethe tunable phase-shift components 724 a-724 d. In some implementations,the DRx controller 702 tunes the tunable phase-shift components 724a-724 d based on the band select signal. For example, the DRx controller702 may tune the tunable phase-shift components 724 a-724 d based on alookup table that associates frequency bands (or sets of frequencybands) indicated by the band select signal with tuning parameters.Accordingly, in response to a band select signal, the DRx controller 702may transmit a phase-shift tuning signal to the tunable phase-shiftcomponent 724 a-724 d of each active path to tune the tunablephase-shift component (or the variable components thereof) according tothe tuning parameters.

The DRx controller 702 may be configured to tune the tunable phase-shiftcomponents 724 a-724 d such that out-of-band reflected signals arein-phase at the output multiplexer 312 with out-of-band initial signals.For example, if the band select signal indicates that the first path(through the first amplifier 314 a) corresponding to a first frequencyband, the second path (through the second amplifier 314 b) correspondingto a second frequency band, and the third path (through the thirdamplifier 314 c) are to be activated, the DRx controller 702 may tunethe first tunable phase-shift component 724 a such that (1) for a signalpropagating along the second path (at the second frequency band), theinitial signal is in-phase with a reflected signal that reversepropagates along the first path, reflects off the bandpass filter 313 a,and forward propagates through the first path and (2) for a signalpropagating along the third path (at the third frequency band), theinitial signal is in-phase with a reflected signal that reversepropagates along the first path, reflects off the bandpass filter 313 a,and forward propagates through the first path.

The DRx controller 702 may tune the first tunable phase-shift component724 a such that the second frequency band is phase-shifted a differentamount than the third frequency band. For example, if the signal at thesecond frequency band is phase-shifted by 140 degrees and the thirdfrequency band is phase-shifted by 130 degrees by reverse propagationthrough the first amplifier 314 a, reflection off the bandpass filter313 a, and forward propagation through the first amplifier 314 b, theDRx controller 702 may tune the first tunable phase-shift component 724a to phase-shift the second frequency band by −70 degrees (or 110degrees) and phase-shift the third frequency band by −65 degrees (or 115degrees).

The DRx controller 702 may similarly tune the second phase-shiftcomponent 724 b and third phase-shift component 724 c.

As another example, if the band select signal indicates that the firstpath, the second path, and the fourth path (through the fourth amplifier314 d) are to be activated, the DRx controller 702 may tune the firsttunable phase-shift component 724 a such that (1) for a signalpropagating along the second path (at the second frequency band), theinitial signal is in-phase with a reflected signal that reversepropagates along the first path, reflects off the bandpass filter 313 a,and forward propagates through the first path and (2) for a signalpropagating along the fourth path (at the fourth frequency band), theinitial signal is in-phase with a reflected signal that reversepropagates along the first path, reflects off the bandpass filter 313 a,and forward propagates through the first path.

The DRx controller 702 may tune the variable components of the tunablephase-shift components 724 a-724 d to have different values fordifferent sets of frequency bands.

In some implementations, the tunable phase-shift components 724 a-724 dare replaced with fixed phase-shift components that are not tunable orcontrolled by the DRx controller 702. Each one of the phase-shiftcomponents disposed along a corresponding one of the paths correspondingto one frequency band may be configured to phase-shift each of the otherfrequency bands such that an initial signal along a corresponding otherpath is in-phase with a reflected signal that reverse propagates alongthe one of the paths, reflects off the corresponding bandpass filter,and forward propagates through the one of the paths.

For example, the third phase-shift component 724 c may be fixed andconfigured to (1) phase-shift the first frequency band such that aninitial signal at the first frequency (propagating along the first path)is in-phase with a reflected signal that reverse propagates along thethird path, reflects off the third bandpass filter 313 c, and forwardpropagates through the third path, (2) phase-shift the second frequencyband such that an initial signal at the second frequency (propagatingalong the second path) is in-phase with a reflected signal that reversepropagates along the third path, reflects off the third bandpass filter313 c, and forward propagates through the third path, and (3)phase-shift the fourth frequency band such that an initial signal at thefourth frequency (propagating along the fourth path) is in-phase with areflected signal that reverse propagates along the third path, reflectsoff the third bandpass filter 313 c, and forward propagates through thethird path. The other phase-shift components may be similarly fixed andconfigured.

Thus, the DRx module 710 includes a DRx controller 702 configured toselectively one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of theDRx module 710 and an output of the DRx module 710. The DRx module 710further includes plurality of amplifiers 314 a-314 d, each one of theplurality of amplifiers 314 a-314 d disposed along a corresponding oneof the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received atthe amplifier. The DRx module further includes a plurality ofphase-shift components 724 a-724 d, each one of the plurality ofphase-shift components 724 a-724 d disposed along a corresponding one ofthe plurality of paths and configured to phase-shift a signal passingthrough the phase-shift component.

In some implementations, the first phase-shift component 724 a isdisposed along a first path corresponding to a first frequency band(e.g., the frequency band of the first bandpass filter 313 a) and isconfigured to phase-shift a second frequency band (e.g., the frequencyband of the second bandpass filter 313 b) of a signal passing throughthe first phase-shift component 724 a such that an initial signalpropagated along a second path corresponding to the second frequencyband and a reflected signal propagated along the first path are at leastpartially in-phase.

In some implementations, the first phase-shift component 724 a isfurther configured to phase-shift a third frequency band (e.g., thefrequency band of the third bandpass filter 313 c) of a signal passingthrough the first phase-shift component 724 a such that an initialsignal propagated along a third path corresponding to the thirdfrequency band and a reflected signal propagated along the first pathare at least partially in-phase.

Similarly, in some implementations, the second phase-shift component 724b disposed along the second path is configured to phase-shift the firstfrequency band of a signal passing through the second phase-shiftcomponent 724 b such that an initial signal propagated along the firstpath and a reflected signal propagated along the second path are atleast partially in-phase.

FIG. 8 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 800 may include a DRx module 810 with one or moreimpedance matching components 834 a-834 b. The DRx module 810 includestwo paths from an input of the DRx module 810, coupled to an antenna140, and an output of the DRx module 810, coupled to a transmission line135.

In the DRx module 810 of FIG. 8 (as in the DRx module 610 of FIG. 6A),the signal splitter and bandpass filters are implemented as a diplexer611. The diplexer 611 includes an input coupled to the antenna, a firstoutput coupled to a first impedance matching component 834 a, and asecond output coupled to a second impedance matching component 834 b. Atthe first output, the diplexer 611 outputs a signal received at theinput (e.g., from the antenna 140) filtered to a first frequency band.At the second output, the diplexer 611 outputs the signal received atthe input filtered to a second frequency band.

Each of the impedance matching components 834 a-634 d is disposedbetween the diplexer 611 and an amplifier 314 a-314 b. As describedabove, each one of the amplifiers 314 a-314 b is disposed along acorresponding one of the paths and is configured to amplify a signalreceived at the amplifier. The output of the amplifiers 314 a-314 b arefed to a signal combiner 612.

The signal combiner 612 includes a first input coupled to the firstamplifier 314 a, a second input coupled to second amplifier 314 b, andan output coupled to the output of the DRx module 610. The signal at theoutput of the signal combiner is a sum of the signals at the first inputand the second input.

When a signal is received by the antenna 140, the signal is filtered bythe diplexer 611 to a first frequency band and propagated along thefirst path through the first amplifier 314 a. Similarly, the signal isfiltered by the diplexer 611 to a second frequency band and propagatedalong the second path through the second amplifier 314 b.

Each of the paths may be characterized by a noise figure and a gain. Thenoise figure of each path is a representation of the degradation of thesignal-to-noise ratio (SNR) caused by the amplifier and impedancematching component disposed along the path. In particular, the noisefigure of each path is the difference in decibels (dB) between the SNRat the input of the impedance matching component 834 a-834 b and the SNRat the output of the amplifier 314 a-314 b. Thus, the noise figure is ameasure of the difference between the noise output of the amplifier tothe noise output of an “ideal” amplifier (that does not produce noise)with the same gain. Similarly, the gain for each path is arepresentation of the gain caused by the amplifier and the impedancematching component disposed along the path.

The noise figure and gain of each path may be different for differentfrequency bands. For example, the first path may have an in-band noisefigure and in-band gain for the first frequency band and an out-of-bandnoise figure and out-of-band gain for the second frequency band.Similarly, the second path may have an in-band noise figure and in-bandgain for the second frequency band and an out-of-band noise figure andout-of-band gain for the first frequency band.

The DRx module 810 may also be characterized by a noise figure and again which may be different for different frequency bands. Inparticular, the noise figure of the DRx module 810 is the difference indB between the SNR at the input of the DRx module 810 and the SNR at theoutput of the DRx module 810.

The noise figure and gain of each path (at each frequency band) maydepend, at least in part, on the impedance (at each frequency band) ofthe impedance matching component 834 a-834 b. Accordingly, it may beadvantageous that the impedance of the impedance matching component 834a-834 b is such that the in-band noise figure of each path is minimizedand/or the in-band gain of each path is maximized. Thus, in someimplementations, each of the impedance matching components 834 a-834 bis configured to decrease the in-band noise figure of its respectivepath and/or increase the in-band gain of its respective path (ascompared to a DRx module lacking such impedance matching components 834a-834 b).

Because the signal propagating along the two paths are combined by thesignal combiner 612, out-of-band noise produced or amplified by anamplifier can negatively affect the combined signal. For example,out-of-band noise produced or amplified by the first amplifier 314 a mayincrease the noise figure of the DRx module 810 at the second frequency.Accordingly, it may be advantageous that the impedance of the impedancematching component 834 a-834 b is such that the out-of-band noise figureof each path is minimized and/or the out-of-band gain of each path isminimized. Thus, in some implementations, each of the impedance matchingcomponent 834 a-834 b is configured to decrease the out-of-band noisefigure of its respective path and/or decrease the out-of-band gain ofits respective path (as compared to a DRx module lacking such impedancematching components 834 a-834 b).

The impedance matching components 834 a-834 b may be implemented aspassive circuits. In particular, the impedance matching components 834a-834 b may be implemented as RLC circuits and include one or morepassive components, such as resistors, inductors and/or capacitors. Thepassive components may be connected in parallel and/or in series and maybe connected between the outputs of the diplexer 611 and the inputs ofthe amplifiers 314 a-314 b or may be connected between the outputs ofthe diplexer 611 and a ground voltage. In some implementations, theimpedance matching components 834 a-834 b are integrated into the samedie as the amplifiers 314 a-314 b or on the same package.

As noted above, for a particular path, it may be advantageous that theimpedance of the impedance matching component 834 a-834 b is such thatthe in-band noise figure is minimized, the in-band gain is maximized,the out-of-band noise figure is minimized, and the out-of-band gain isminimized. Designing an impedance matching component 834 a-834 b toachieve all four of these goals with only two degrees of freedom (e.g.,the impedance at the first frequency band and the impedance at thesecond frequency band) or other various constraints (e.g., componentnumber, cost, die space) may be challenging. Accordingly, in someimplementations, an in-band metric of the in-band noise figure minus thein-band gain is minimized and an out-of-band metric of the out-of-bandnoise figure plus the out-of-band gain is minimized. Designing animpedance matching component 834 a-834 b to achieve both of these goalswith various constraints may still be challenging. Thus, in someimplementations, the in-band metric is minimized subject to a set ofconstraints and the out-of-band metric is minimized subject to the setof constraints and the additional constraint that the in-band metric notbe increased by more than a threshold amount (e.g., 0.1 dB, 0.2 dB, 0.5dB or any other value). Accordingly, the impedance matching component isconfigured to reduce an in-band metric of the in-band noise figure minusthe in-band gain to within a threshold amount of an in-band metricminimum, e.g., the minimum possible in-band metric subject to anyconstraints. The impedance matching component is further configured toreduce an out-of-band metric of the out-of-band noise figure plus theout-of-band gain to an in-band-constrained out-of-band minimum, e.g.,the minimum possible out-of-band metric subject to the additionalconstraint that the in-band metric not be increased by more than athreshold amount. In some implementations, a composite metric of thein-band metric (weighted by an in-band factor) plus the out-of-bandmetric (weighted by an out-of-band factor) is minimized subject to anyconstraints.

Thus, in some implementations, each of the impedance matching components834 a-834 b is configured to decrease the in-band metric (the in-bandnoise figure minus the in-band gain) of its respective path (e.g., bydecreasing the in-band noise figure, increasing the in-band gain, orboth). In some implementations, each of the impedance matchingcomponents 834 a-834 b is further configured to decrease the out-of-bandmetric (the out-of-band noise figure plus the out-of-band gain) of itsrespective path (e.g., by decreasing the out-of-band noise figure,decreasing the out-of-band gain, or both).

In some implementations, by decreasing the out-of-band metrics, theimpedance matching components 834 a-834 b decreases the noise figure ofthe DRx module 810 at one or more of the frequency bands withoutsubstantially increasing the noise figure at other frequency bands.

FIG. 9 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 900 may include a DRx module 910 with tunable impedancematching components 934 a-934 d. Each of the tunable impedance matchingcomponents 934 a-934 d may be configured to present an impedancecontrolled by an impedance tuning signal received from a DRx controller902.

The diversity receiver configuration 900 includes a DRx module 910having an input coupled to an antenna 140 and an output coupled to atransmission line 135. The DRx module 910 includes a number of pathsbetween the input and the output of the DRx module 910. In someimplementations, the DRx module 910 includes one or more bypass paths(not shown) between the inputs and the output activated by one or morebypass switches controlled by the DRx controller 902.

The DRx module 910 includes a number of multiplexer paths including aninput multiplexer 311 and an output multiplexer 312. The multiplexerpaths include a number of on-module paths (shown) that include the inputmultiplexer 311, a bandpass filter 313 a-313 d, a tunable impedancematching component 934 a-934 d, an amplifier 314 a-314 d, and the outputmultiplexer 312. The multiplexer paths may include one or moreoff-module paths (not shown) as described above. As also describedabove, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d may be variable-gain amplifiers and/orvariable-current amplifiers.

The tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 b may be a tunableT-circuit, a tunable PI-circuit, or any other tunable matching circuit.The tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d may include one ormore variable components, such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors.The variable components may be connected in parallel and/or in seriesand may be connected between the outputs of the input multiplexer 311and the inputs of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d or may be connected betweenthe outputs of the input multiplexer 311 and a ground voltage.

The DRx controller 902 is configured to selectively activate one or moreof the plurality of paths between the input and the output. In someimplementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured to selectivelyactivate one or more of the plurality of paths based on a band selectsignal received by the DRx controller 902 (e.g., from a communicationscontroller). The DRx controller 902 may selectively activate the pathsby, for example, enabling or disabling the amplifiers 314 a-314 d,controlling the multiplexers 311, 312, or through other mechanisms asdescribed above.

In some implementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured to tunethe tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d. In someimplementations, the DRx controller 702 tunes the tunable impedancematching components 934 a-934 d based on the band select signal. Forexample, the DRx controller 902 may tune the tunable impedance matchingcomponents 934 a-934 d based on a lookup table that associates frequencybands (or sets of frequency bands) indicated by the band select signalwith tuning parameters. Accordingly, in response to a band selectsignal, the DRx controller 902 may transmit a impedance tuning signal tothe tunable impedance matching component 934 a-934 d of each active pathto tune the tunable impedance matching component (or the variablecomponents thereof) according to the tuning parameters.

In some implementations, the DRx controller 902 tunes the tunableimpedance matching components 934 a-934 d based, at least in part, onthe amplifier control signals transmitted to control the gain and/orcurrent of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d.

In some implementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured to tunethe tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d of each activepath such that the in-band noise figure is minimized (or reduced), thein-band gain is maximized (or increased), the out-of-band noise figurefor each other active path is minimized (or reduced), and/or theout-of-band gain for each other active path is minimized (or reduced).

In some implementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured to tunethe tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d of each activepath such that the in-band metric (the in-band noise figure minus thein-band gain) is minimized (or reduced) and the out-of-band metric (theout-of-band noise figure plus the out-of-band gain) for each otheractive path is minimized (or reduced).

In some implementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured to tunethe tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d of each activepath such that in-band metric is minimized (or reduced) subject to a setof constraints and the out-of-band metric for each of the other activepaths is minimized (or reduced) subject to the set of constraints andthe additional constraints that the in-band metric not be increased bymore than a threshold amount (e.g., 0.1 dB, 0.2 dB, 0.5 dB or any othervalue).

Thus, in some implementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured totune the tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d of eachactive path such that the tunable impedance matching component reducesan in-band metric of the in-band noise figure minus the in-band gain towithin a threshold amount of an in-band metric minimum, e.g., theminimum possible in-band metric subject to any constraints. The DRxcontroller 902 may be further configured to tune the tunable impedancematching components 934 a-934 d of each active path such that thetunable impedance matching component reduce an out-of-band metric of theout-of-band noise figure plus the out-of-band gain to anin-band-constrained out-of-band minimum, e.g., the minimum possibleout-of-band metric subject to the additional constraint that the in-bandmetric not be increased by more than a threshold amount.

In some implementations, the DRx controller 902 is configured to tunethe tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d of each activepath such that a composite metric of the in-band metric (weighted by anin-band factor) plus the out-of-band metric for each of the other activepaths (weighted by an out-of-band factor for each of the other activepaths) is minimized (or reduced) subject to any constraints.

The DRx controller 902 may tune the variable components of the tunableimpedance matching components 934 a-934 d to have different values fordifferent sets of frequency bands.

In some implementations, the tunable impedance matching components 934a-934 d are replaced with fixed impedance matching components that arenot tunable or controlled by the DRx controller 902. Each one of theimpedance matching components disposed along a corresponding one of thepaths corresponding to one frequency band may be configured to reduce(or minimize) the in-band metric for the one frequency band and reduce(or minimize) the out-of-band metric for one or more of the otherfrequency bands (e.g., each of the other frequency bands).

For example, the third impedance matching component 934 c may be fixedand configured to (1) reduce the in-band metric for the third frequencyband, (2) reduce the out-of-band metric for the first frequency band,(3) reduce the out-of-band metric for the second frequency band, and/or(4) reduce the out-of-band metric of the fourth frequency band. Theother impedance matching components may be similarly fixed andconfigured.

Thus, the DRx module 910 includes a DRx controller 902 configured toselectively one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of theDRx module 910 and an output of the DRx module 910. The DRx module 910further includes plurality of amplifiers 314 a-314 d, each one of theplurality of amplifiers 314 a-314 d disposed along a corresponding oneof the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received atthe amplifier. The DRx module further includes a plurality of impedancematching components 934 a-934 d, each one of the plurality ofphase-shift components 934 a-934 d disposed along a corresponding one ofthe plurality of paths and configured to reduce at least one of anout-of-band noise figure or an out-of-band gain of the one of theplurality of paths.

In some implementations, the first impedance matching component 934 a isdisposed along a first path corresponding to a first frequency band(e.g., the frequency band of the first bandpass filter 313 a) and isconfigured to reduce at least one of an out-of-band noise figure or anout-of-band gain for a second frequency band (e.g., the frequency bandof the second bandpass filter 313 b) corresponding to a second path.

In some implementations, the first impedance matching component 934 a isfurther configured to reduce at least one of an out-of-band noise figureor an out-of-band gain for a third frequency band (e.g., the frequencyband of the third bandpass filter 313 c) corresponding to the thirdpath.

Similarly, in some implementations, the second impedance matchingcomponent 934 b disposed along the second path is configured to reduceat least one of an out-of-band noise figure or an out-of-band gain forthe first frequency band.

FIG. 10 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 1000 may include a DRx module 1010 with tunable impedancematching components disposed at the input and output. The DRx module1010 may include one or more tunable impedance matching componentsdisposed at one or more of the input and the output of the DRx module1010. In particular, the DRx module 1010 may include an input tunableimpedance matching component 1016 disposed at the input of the DRxmodule 1010, an output tunable impedance matching component 1017disposed at the output of the DRx module 1010, or both.

Multiple frequency bands received on the same diversity antenna 140 areunlikely to all see an ideal impedance match. To match each frequencyband using a compact matching circuit, a tunable input impedancematching component 1016 may be implemented at the input of the DRxmodule 1010 and controlled by the DRx controller 1002 (e.g., based on aband select signal from a communications controller). For example, theDRx controller 1002 may tune the tunable input impedance matchingcomponent 1016 based on a lookup table that associates frequency bands(or sets of frequency bands) indicated by the band select signal withtuning parameters. Accordingly, in response to a band select signal, theDRx controller 1002 may transmit an input impedance tuning signal to thetunable input impedance matching component 1016 to tune the tunableinput impedance matching component (or the variable components thereof)according to the tuning parameters.

The tunable input impedance matching component 1016 may be a tunableT-circuit, a tunable PI-circuit, or any other tunable matching circuit.In particular, the tunable input impedance matching component 1016 mayinclude one or more variable components, such as resistors, inductors,and capacitors. The variable components may be connected in paralleland/or in series and may be connected between the input of the DRxmodule 1010 and the input of the first multiplexer 311 or may beconnected between the input of the DRx module 1010 and a ground voltage.

Similarly, with only one transmission line 135 (or, at least, fewtransmission lines) carrying signals of many frequency bands, it is notlikely that multiple frequency bands will all see an ideal impedancematch. To match each frequency band using a compact matching circuit, atunable output impedance matching component 1017 may be implemented atthe output of the DRx module 1010 and controlled by the DRx controller1002 (e.g., based on a band select signal from a communicationscontroller). For example, the DRx controller 1002 may tune the tunableoutput impedance matching component 1017 based on a lookup table thatassociates frequency bands (or sets of frequency bands) indicated by theband select signal with tuning parameters. Accordingly, in response to aband select signal, the DRx controller 1002 may transmit an outputimpedance tuning signal to the tunable output impedance matchingcomponent 1017 to tune the tunable output impedance matching component(or the variable components thereof) according to the tuning parameters.

The tunable output impedance matching component 1017 may be a tunableT-circuit, a tunable PI-circuit, or any other tunable matching circuit.In particular, the tunable output impedance matching component 1017 mayinclude one or more variable components, such as resistors, inductors,and capacitors. The variable components may be connected in paralleland/or in series and may be connected between the output of the secondmultiplexer 312 and the output of the DRx module 1010 or may beconnected between the output of the second multiplexer 312 and a groundvoltage.

FIG. 11 shows that in some embodiments, a diversity receiverconfiguration 1100 may include a DRx module 1110 with multiple tunablecomponents. The diversity receiver configuration 1100 includes a DRxmodule 1110 having an input coupled to an antenna 140 and an outputcoupled to a transmission line 135. The DRx module 1110 includes anumber of paths between the input and the output of the DRx module 1110.In some implementations, the DRx module 1110 includes one or more bypasspaths (not shown) between the inputs and the output activated by one ormore bypass switches controlled by the DRx controller 1102.

The DRx module 1110 includes a number of multiplexer paths including aninput multiplexer 311 and an output multiplexer 312. The multiplexerpaths include a number of on-module paths (shown) that include a tunableinput impedance matching component 1016, the input multiplexer 311, abandpass filter 313 a-313 d, a tunable impedance matching component 934a-934 d, an amplifier 314 a-314 d, a tunable phase-shift component 724a-724 d, the output multiplexer 312, and a tunable output impedancematching component 1017. The multiplexer paths may include one or moreoff-module paths (not shown) as described above. As also describedabove, the amplifiers 314 a-314 d may be variable-gain amplifiers and/orvariable-current amplifiers.

The DRx controller 1102 is configured to selectively activate one ormore of the plurality of paths between the input and the output. In someimplementations, the DRx controller 1102 is configured to selectivelyactivate one or more of the plurality of paths based on a band selectsignal received by the DRx controller 1102 (e.g., from a communicationscontroller). The DRx controller 902 may selectively activate the pathsby, for example, enabling or disabling the amplifiers 314 a-314 d,controlling the multiplexers 311, 312, or through other mechanisms asdescribed above. In some implementations, the DRx controller 1102 isconfigured to send an amplifier control signal to one or more amplifiers314 a-314 d respectively disposed along the one or more activated paths.The amplifier control signal controls the gain (or current) of theamplifier to which it is sent.

The DRx controller 1102 is configured to tune one or more of the tunableinput impedance matching component 1016, the tunable impedance matchingcomponents 934 a-934 d, the tunable phase-shift components 724 a-724 d,and the tunable output impedance matching component 1017. For example,the DRx controller 1102 may tune the tunable components based on alookup table that associates frequency bands (or sets of frequencybands) indicated by the band select signal with tuning parameters.Accordingly, in response to a band select signal, the DRx controller1101 may transmit a tuning signal to the tunable components (of activepaths) to tune the tunable components (or the variable componentsthereof) according to the tuning parameters. In some implementations,the DRx controller 1102 tunes the tunable components based, at least inpart, on the amplifier control signals transmitted to control the gainand/or current of the amplifiers 314 a-314 d. In variousimplementations, one or more of the tunable components may be replacedby fixed components that are not controlled by the DRx controller 1102.

It is to be appreciated that the tuning of one of the tunable componentsmay affect the tuning of other tunable components. Thus, the tuningparameters in a lookup table for a first tunable component may be basedon the tuning parameters for a second tunable component. For example,the tuning parameters for the tunable phase-shift components 724 a-724 dmay be based on the tuning parameters for the tunable impedance matchingcomponents 934 a-934 d. As another example, the tuning parameters forthe tunable impedance matching components 934 a-934 d may be based onthe tuning parameters for the tunable input impedance matching component1016.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a flowchart representation of a method ofprocessing an RF signal. In some implementations (and as detailed belowas an example), the method 1200 is performed by a controller, such asthe DRx controller 1102 of FIG. 11. In some implementations, the method1200 is performed by processing logic, including hardware, firmware,software, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the method1200 is performed by a processor executing code stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory). Briefly, themethod 1200 includes receiving a band select signal and routing areceived RF signal along one or more tuned paths to process the receivedRF signal.

The method 1200 begins, at block 1210, with the controller receiving aband select signal. The controller may receive the band select signalfrom another controller or may receive the band select signal from acellular base station or other external source. The band select signalmay indicate one or more frequency bands over which a wireless device isto transmit and receive RF signals. In some implementations, the bandselect signal indicates a set of frequency bands for carrier aggregationcommunication.

At block 1220, the controller selectively activates one or more paths ofa diversity receiver (DRx) module based on the band select signal. Asdescribed above, a DRx module may include a number of paths between oneor more inputs (coupled to one or more antennas) and one or more outputs(coupled to one or more transmission lines) of the DRx module. The pathsmay include bypass paths and multiplexer paths. The multiplexer pathsmay include on-module paths and off-module paths.

The controller may selectively activate one or more of the plurality ofpaths by, for example, opening or closing one or more bypass switches,enabling or disabling amplifiers disposed along the paths via anamplifier enable signal, controlling one or more multiplexers via asplitter control signal and/or a combiner control signal, or throughother mechanisms. For example, the controller may open or close switchesdisposed along the paths or set the gain of the amplifiers disposedalong the paths to substantially zero.

At block 1230, the controller sends a tuning signal to one or moretunable components disposed along the one or more activated paths. Thetunable components may include one or more of a tunable impedancematching component disposed at the input of the DRx module, a pluralityof tunable impedance matching components respectively disposed along theplurality of paths, a plurality of tunable phase-shift componentsrespectively disposed along the plurality of paths, or a tunable outputimpedance matching component disposed at the output of the DRx module.

The controller may tune the tunable components based on a lookup tablethat associates frequency bands (or sets of frequency bands) indicatedby the band select signal with tuning parameters. Accordingly, inresponse to a band select signal, the DRx controller may transmit atuning signal to the tunable components (of active paths) to tune thetunable components (or the variable components thereof) according to thetuning parameters. In some implementations, the controller tunes thetunable components based, at least in part, on amplifier control signalstransmitted to control the gain and/or current of one or more amplifiersrespectively disposed along the one or more activated paths.

FIG. 13 shows that in some embodiments, some or all of the diversityreceiver configurations (e.g., those shown in FIGS. 3-11) can beimplemented, wholly or partially, in a module. Such a module can be, forexample, a front-end module (FEM). Such a module can be, for example, adiversity receiver (DRx) FEM. In the example of FIG. 13, a module 1300can include a packaging substrate 1302, and a number of components canbe mounted on such a packaging substrate 1302. For example, a controller1304 (which may include a front-end power management integrated circuit[FE-PIMC]), a low-noise amplifier assembly 1306 (which may include oneor more variable-gain amplifiers), a match component 1308 (which mayinclude one or more fixed or tunable phase-shift components 1331 and oneor more fixed or tunable impedance matching components 1332), amultiplexer assembly 1310, and a filter bank 1312 (which may include oneor more bandpass filters) can be mounted and/or implemented on and/orwithin the packaging substrate 1302. Other components, such as a numberof SMT devices 1314, can also be mounted on the packaging substrate1302. Although all of the various components are depicted as being laidout on the packaging substrate 1302, it will be understood that somecomponent(s) can be implemented over other component(s).

In some implementations, a device and/or a circuit having one or morefeatures described herein can be included in an RF electronic devicesuch as a wireless device. Such a device and/or a circuit can beimplemented directly in the wireless device, in a modular form asdescribed herein, or in some combination thereof. In some embodiments,such a wireless device can include, for example, a cellular phone, asmart-phone, a hand-held wireless device with or without phonefunctionality, a wireless tablet, etc.

FIG. 14 depicts an example wireless device 1400 having one or moreadvantageous features described herein. In the context of one or moremodules having one or more features as described herein, such modulescan be generally depicted by a dashed box 1401 (which can be implementedas, for example, a front-end module), a diversity RF module 1411 (whichcan be implemented as, for example, a downstream module), and adiversity receiver (DRx) module 1300 (which can be implemented as, forexample, a front-end module)

Referring to FIG. 14, power amplifiers (PAs) 1420 can receive theirrespective RF signals from a transceiver 1410 that can be configured andoperated in known manners to generate RF signals to be amplified andtransmitted, and to process received signals. The transceiver 1410 isshown to interact with a baseband sub-system 1408 that is configured toprovide conversion between data and/or voice signals suitable for a userand RF signals suitable for the transceiver 1410. The transceiver 1410can also be in communication with a power management component 1406 thatis configured to manage power for the operation of the wireless device1400. Such power management can also control operations of the basebandsub-system 1408 and the modules 1401, 1411, and 1300.

The baseband sub-system 1408 is shown to be connected to a userinterface 1402 to facilitate various input and output of voice and/ordata provided to and received from the user. The baseband sub-system1408 can also be connected to a memory 1404 that is configured to storedata and/or instructions to facilitate the operation of the wirelessdevice, and/or to provide storage of information for the user.

In the example wireless device 1400, outputs of the PAs 1420 are shownto be matched (via respective match circuits 1422) and routed to theirrespective duplexers 1424. Such amplified and filtered signals can berouted to a primary antenna 1416 through an antenna switch 1414 fortransmission. In some embodiments, the duplexers 1424 can allow transmitand receive operations to be performed simultaneously using a commonantenna (e.g., primary antenna 1416). In FIG. 14, received signals areshown to be routed to “Rx” paths that can include, for example, alow-noise amplifier (LNA).

The wireless device also includes a diversity antenna 1426 and adiversity receiver module 1300 that receives signals from the diversityantenna 1426. The diversity receiver module 1300 processes the receivedsignals and transmits the processed signals via a transmission line 1435to a diversity RF module 1411 that further processes the signal beforefeeding the signal to the transceiver 1410.

One or more features of the present disclosure can be implemented withvarious cellular frequency bands as described herein. Examples of suchbands are listed in Table 1. It will be understood that at least some ofthe bands can be divided into sub-bands. It will also be understood thatone or more features of the present disclosure can be implemented withfrequency ranges that do not have designations such as the examples ofTable 1.

TABLE 1 Tx Frequency Band Mode Range (MHz) Rx Frequency Range (MHz) B1FDD 1,920-1,980 2,110-2,170 B2 FDD 1,850-1,910 1,930-1,990 B3 FDD1,710-1,785 1,805-1,880 B4 FDD 1,710-1,755 2,110-2,155 B5 FDD 824-849869-894 B6 FDD 830-840 875-885 B7 FDD 2,500-2,570 2,620-2,690 B8 FDD880-915 925-960 B9 FDD 1,749.9-1,784.9 1,844.9-1,879.9 B10 FDD1,710-1,770 2,110-2,170 B11 FDD 1,427.9-1,447.9 1,475.9-1,495.9 B12 FDD699-716 729-746 B13 FDD 777-787 746-756 B14 FDD 788-798 758-768 B15 FDD1,900-1,920 2,600-2,620 B16 FDD 2,010-2,025 2,585-2,600 B17 FDD 704-716734-746 B18 FDD 815-830 860-875 B19 FDD 830-845 875-890 B20 FDD 832-862791-821 B21 FDD 1,447.9-1,462.9 1,495.9-1,510.9 B22 FDD 3,410-3,4903,510-3,590 B23 FDD 2,000-2,020 2,180-2,200 B24 FDD 1,626.5-1,660.51,525-1,559 B25 FDD 1,850-1,915 1,930-1,995 B26 FDD 814-849 859-894 B27FDD 807-824 852-869 B28 FDD 703-748 758-803 B29 FDD N/A 716-728 B30 FDD2,305-2,315 2,350-2,360 B31 FDD 452.5-457.5 462.5-467.5 B33 TDD1,900-1,920 1,900-1,920 B34 TDD 2,010-2,025 2,010-2,025 B35 TDD1,850-1,910 1,850-1,910 B36 TDD 1,930-1,990 1,930-1,990 B37 TDD1,910-1,930 1,910-1,930 B38 TDD 2,570-2,620 2,570-2,620 B39 TDD1,880-1,920 1,880-1,920 B40 TDD 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 B41 TDD2,496-2,690 2,496-2,690 B42 TDD 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 B43 TDD3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800 B44 TDD 703-803 703-803

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” The word “coupled”, as generally usedherein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directlyconnected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Wherethe context permits, words in the above Description using the singularor plural number may also include the plural or singular numberrespectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items,that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: anyof the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and anycombination of the items in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, whileprocesses or blocks are presented in a given order, alternativeembodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems havingblocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may bedeleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each ofthese processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of differentways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as beingperformed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performedin parallel, or may be performed at different times.

The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various embodiments described above can be combined toprovide further embodiments.

While some embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in theform of the methods and systems described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing a radio-frequency (RF)signal, the method comprising: amplifying a first RF signal using afirst amplifier disposed along a first path corresponding to a firstfrequency band; amplifying a second RF signal using a second amplifierdisposed along a second path corresponding to a second frequency band;generating a first impedance tuning signal in response to a band selectsignal indicating an in-band frequency band as the first frequency bandand an out-of-band frequency band as the second frequency band; andproducing, based on the first impedance tuning signal, a first impedancealong the first path, the first impedance configured to increase anin-band metric of the first path for the in-band frequency band and todecrease an out-of-band metric of the first path for the out-of-bandfrequency band.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the in-band metric isan in-band noise figure minus an in-band gain.
 3. The method of claim 2wherein the out-of-band metric is an out-of-band noise figure plus anout-of-band gain.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising generatinga second impedance tuning signal in response to the band select signalindicating the in-band frequency band as the second frequency band andthe out-of-band frequency band as the first frequency band.
 5. Themethod of claim 4 further comprising producing, based on the secondimpedance tuning signal, a second impedance along the second path, thesecond impedance configured to increase the in-band metric of the secondpath for the in-band frequency band and to decrease the out-of-bandmetric of the second path for the out-of-band frequency band.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising activating the first amplifierbased on the band select signal indicating the first frequency band. 7.The method of claim 6 further comprising activating the second amplifierbased on the band select signal indicating the second frequency band. 8.The method of claim 1 further comprising splitting an input RF signalinto the first RF signal and the second RF signal.
 9. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising generating an output signal by combiningsignals propagating along the first path and the second path.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first impedance is selected to reduce thein-band metric of the first path to within a threshold amount of anin-band metric minimum.
 11. A method for processing radio-frequency (RF)signals using a receiving system, the method comprising: receiving aninput RF signal at an input of the receiving system, the input RF signalreceived from a diversity antenna separate from a primary antenna;selectively activating one or more of a plurality of paths between theinput of the receiving system and an output of the receiving system,each one of the plurality of paths including an amplifier; generating animpedance tuning signal; generating an output tuning signal; producing,based on the impedance tuning signal, an impedance on each of theselectively activated plurality of paths, the impedance for eachselectively activated path configured to increase an in-band gain for anin-band frequency and to reduce an out-of-band gain for an out-of-bandfrequency; producing, based on the output tuning signal, an outputimpedance at the output of the receiving system, the output impedanceconfigured to match an impedance of a transmission line coupled to theoutput of the receiving system.
 12. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising transmitting signals to a transceiver through thetransmission line coupled to the output of the receiving system.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising amplifying RF signals propagatingalong the selectively activated plurality of paths using correspondingamplifiers.
 14. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving aband select signal.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein selectivelyactivating the one or more of the plurality of paths is based on theband select signal.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein producing theoutput impedance is based on the band select signal.
 17. The method ofclaim 14 wherein producing the impedance on each of the selectivelyactivated plurality of paths is based on the band select signal.
 18. Themethod of claim 11 wherein the output tuning signal is based on a lookuptable that associates frequency bands or sets of frequency bands withtuning parameters.
 19. The method of claim 11 further comprisingfiltering signals on each of the selectively activated plurality ofpaths to a respective frequency band.
 20. The method of claim 11 whereinthe impedance for each selectively activated path is configured todecrease an in-band noise factor for the in-band frequency and to reducean out-of-band noise factor for the out-of-band frequency.